PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL | FRIDAY/SATURDAY REVIEW

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The Easter weekend started in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central with leaders, Needham Market, coming home from Hitchin Town with a 2-0 victory.

Second half strikes from Adam Mills and Luke Ingram were enough to wrap up the points against opponents who will be hoping that ‘new manager bounce’ will keep them out of the relegation zone.

Mickleover are clinging onto their coat-tails as they left it late to beat Alvechurch 2-1. Tyrell Waite opened the scoring on 88 minutes and then added another in stoppage time before Jaanai Gordon pulled one back with virtually the last kick of the game.

In third place is AFC Telford United who were commanding 3-0 victors over an out of form Redditch United. Montel Gibson gave the hosts a first half lead as Matt Stenson added to it in the opening exchanges of the second period. Remi Walker wrapped the scoring up in front of a crowd of 1,450.

For Redditch, they have been replaced in the play-off zone by Stratford Town who went to Stourbridge and came home with a 1-0 success thanks to Callum Ebanks’ goal in first half stoppage time. Also in the play-off positions are Leamington who had a Rob Evans goal to thank for victory over Halesowen Town.

In the lower reaches of the table, despite taking the lead within the opening minute in their game at Leiston through Tom Newman, Berkhamsted’s ultimate 3-1 loss meant that relegation was confirmed. Ashley Boatswain levelled the scores before a brace from Jamar Loza, with the second coming from the penalty spot, gave the hosts the three points.

A 4-2 home defeat saw AFC Sudbury fail to close the gap as they remain in the final relegation place. Visitors, St. Ives Town, took the lead on the half-hour through Jonny Edwards but in was cancelled out by Jacob Pinnington. Edwards restored his sides’ lead early in the second half and then Jordan Williams weighed in with a third late on. Josh Allen pulled a goal back in the final minute but stoppage time saw Edwards complete his hat-trick to make the game safe for his team.

There was another hard-fought 1-0 win for Coalville Town as Tom McGlinchey’s first half goal proved to be the difference against Bromsgrove Sporting. Meanwhile, Addillanie Yussuf, hit a goal in each half to give Kettering Town a 2-1 triumph over Barwell, for whom Deen Master scored late in the opening period.

Royston Town came from a goal behind to win 2-1 at Stamford. Jack Duffy had given the hosts the lead on the half-hour before Andronicos Georgiou restored parity just before the hour-mark. In the end, an unfortunate own goal from Jon Challinor with ten minutes to go proved to be the difference.

IMAGE: Alvechurch FC